In quarantine but not alone

Bill and Bev Abbenbroek say the kindness and care of the other residents and staff at The Avenue Maroochydore helped them through the challenge of a two-week quarantine period on return from Asia during the height of the Covid-19 crisis.

The couple had been in Phuket and Central Java where they were teaching English in a high school and theological college. While there they also connected with orphanages and local churches.

When they arrived home to their Sunshine Coast retirement village, Bill and Bev immediately felt welcomed and supported.

“It was really nice to arrive home and while getting in the lift a neighbour called out to say they had made us a bacon and egg pie. They came by with it carefully wrapped and left it for us at a safe distance,’’ Bev said.

“We’ve received lots of calls asking us if there was anything we needed. Then we had a knock at the door and there was a chocolate cake with icing and M&Ms on top that was left on the doorstep.

“This whole experience has actually been really lovely as we have been pastoring for many years and now feel that we are on the receiving end of so much giving. We really have felt well supported.

“Village Manager Mandy contacts us regularly either by phone or email to make sure we are okay. We have a laugh – she really makes it a bright place to live. She is a gem.

“We’ve lived at The Avenue since June 2019 – we were the first residents in. All the residents usually meet for drinks on a Friday and it’s really been a really nice way of getting to know everyone.

“My husband Bill loves playing billiards with the men here and I’m looking forward to the swimming pool opening in the next stage of development.’’

Bev and Bill are well and virus-free. During their period of isolation they entertained themselves inside their apartment on Facebook and answering emails, watching Netflix, YouTube, doing crosswords and reading. “We are on the fourth level so have a nice outlook north,’’ Bev says.

“And our family have supported us too, bringing in groceries to restock before we arrived home and a granddaughter has left other groceries on the mat.

“But our family members are all still working so it’s nice to have the support here at the village from others. Just now one of the neighbours knocked on the door and left milk on the doorstep after asking if there was anything we needed.

“We really are well looked after.’’

To find out more about the supportive community at The Avenue Maroochydore, call 07 5479 6482 or email live@theavenuemaroochydore.com.au